Private passenger jets were exempted from the EU's new Passenger Name Record directive, aimed at combating terrorism, crime and smuggling - despite the concerns of police and MEPs.

The European Commission, as guardian of the treaties, declines to sanction Italy's treatment of the Roma following a forced eviction on Thursday of some 300 from a camp in the outskirts of the Italian capital.

Poland's political masters have extended their control over the supreme court, while continuing to denigrate EU concerns.

One of the biggest systemic risks across Europe, illustrated by Hungary and Poland, is the dominance of the executive power over the judiciary and informal channels of political dependency.

The EU commission chief agreed to trade talks even if the US president did not lift tariffs on steel and aluminium. But he avoided tariffs on cars and obtained a commitment to refrain from new unilateral moves.

China significantly lowered import tariff rates and non-tariff barriers, liberalised the right to trade, boosted the services sector and reduced restrictions on foreign investment.